Airport (West Columbia) is ranked 9th in the state, Bluffton 10th by the South Carolina High School Soccer Coaches Association (SCHSSCA).

"Our approach in the playoffs is to be more aggressive going to goal than we were during the regular season, and we did that very successfully against Georgetown," said BHS coach Josh Fox. "We know we're going to be going up against teams in the playoffs when it may take more than one or two goals to win.

"Airport has a tough team and we're going to have to be on top of our game to beat them."

The Eagles, 3-4-1 against opponents ranked among the top 15 3A teams in the state, finished third in Region V, one game behind co-champions Brookland-Cayce and South Aiken. The Bobcats tied Hilton Head Island for the Region VIII title and earned a No. 1 seed with a better overall record than the Seahawks.

Tonight marks the third playoff meeting between Airport and Bluffton. Airport prevailed 4-2 in 2008 and 2-1 in 2005. BHS won 3-2 in 2007.

Fox had to make some adjustments for the playoffs being the Bobcats' lost five players since its regular season-closing match on April 30 at Hilton Head Island High. Left-footed defensive midfielder Jordan Rodriquez, who has been a key player for Fox, broke the tibia bone in his right leg during a recent practice. Three reserve players quit the team and a starter was dismissed after missing several practices.

"Jordan was a big loss, for sure," Fox said. "But we got (defensive midfielder) Kendall Piedra back after being out since injuring his back in our first game of the season and he played well.

"We have the boys out here who are playing for each other and that's the way it should be."

Tuesday's win was more like a track meet for the BHS forwards and midfielders, as they continually beat Georgetown's futile attempt at employing the offside trap at midfield.

With their speed, BHS would send passes from behind the midfield line while onside against GHS' flat-back four. From there the Bobcat forwards would run onto the ball and head for goal with defenders chasing them.

It made for a long day for goalkeeper DeWayne Lindsey, who made nine saves while yielding seven goals. He no doubt was used to it, considering GHS allowed more than 100 goals during the regular season.

Bobcat senior goalkeeper Brandon Jarosz had what amounted to a day off, making only one save on a ball that rolled to him after one of his defender's attempt at a clearance ricocheted off of a Georgetown player. The only shot Jarosz faced was a 22-yard blast that sailed wide right of the goal late in the first half.

It was a productive day for senior forward Briant Hernandez, who turned in his first three-goal game as a Bobcat. He also had some near misses out of the 13 shots he took, including having a goal nullified by an offside, hitting the right post and barely missing on a couple wide-sailing far-post shots.

"I had a lot of fun today," Hernandez said. "What counts is that we won."

Fox noted that he never has to worry about Hernandez putting forth his best effort.

"He gives you 110 percent, whether in a game or practice," Fox said. "There's no question he has bee our late-season MVP."

Junior Osmar Moreno had a solid game with two goals and an assist. Senior midfielder Kenneth Vargas set the tone for the evening, scoring the first goal on a left-footed rocket from 40 yards.

Sophomore Ryan Blizzard scored on a penalty kick after being fouled in the box and he unselfishly assisted Hernandez' third goal on a cross to the far right post when he just as easily could have taken a near-post shot.

Fox played everyone in the match, including recently promoted Johny Hernandez, Erlin Amaya, Julio Lopez and Gerardo Garcia from the junior varsity.

Tonight's winner moves on the Lower State semifinals on Saturday against the tonight's survivor between North Myrtle Beach (24-1-1) and Socastee (11-7-2), ranked fourth and 12th in the state, respectively.